Three dogs die in Visalia house fire

Sheyanne Romero Published 3:38 p.m. PT April 7, 2017
Although no one was hurt when a Visalia home caught fire, three dogs living inside didn’t survive.

Visalia Fire Department was called to a residential structure fire just after 11:30 a.m. Thursday at 2629 W. Country Ave. When they arrived, smoke and flames were coming from the single-story home. Firefighters forced their way inside.
While battling flames, crews searched for residents. Instead of finding people, they found three dogs suffering from smoke inhalation, Battalion Chief Danny Wristen said.

Firefighters tried to resuscitate the dogs but all three died. The owners of the dogs were not home at the time of the fire, Wristen said.

The fire caused an estimated $56,000 in damage to the home and another $28,000 to contents inside the home.

The cause of the fire appears to be accidental, Wristen said.

Firefighters install smoke detectors for local families

Smoke detectors save lives but far too often firefighters say they rush into homes that don’t have alarms installed.

On Saturday, the American Red Cross of the Central Valley, Visalia Fire Department and Southern California Edison Company will be installing free smoke alarms in Visalia homes.

“In our business, we see firsthand how important smoke detectors are and how they save lives,” Battalion Chief Darrin Hughes said. “The Visalia Fire Department is excited to be partnering with the American Red Cross for another Home Fire Campaign to be able to offer free smoke detectors to those who don’t have these life-saving devices in their homes, and make our residents feel safer at night.”

The Red Cross is able to provide free smoke alarm installations, critical preparedness education, and disaster relief to local families thanks to the support of the community, said Jessica Piffero, Red Cross spokeswoman.

“Last year the Red Cross and volunteers responded to help over 230 families that were displaced by home fire disasters and installed over 630 free smoke alarms,” Executive Director Barry Falke said. “It is extremely important that we as a community continue to educate each other on how to fortify the safety of our communities.”